The airline was founded at
Ottawa International by Canadian aviation pioneer Russell (Russ) Bradley and started operations as Bradley Flying School in 1946, changing the name in 1950 to Bradley Air Services, concurrent with a move to
Carp Airport, and is still registered under that name. First Air started scheduled operations in 1973, between
Ottawa and
North Bay. This service was operated with an eight-seat passenger plane. The airline opened southern gateways at
Edmonton,
Winnipeg,
Montreal and Ottawa. Through
Kuujjuaq in Nunavik and
Yellowknife in the
Northwest Territories (NWT), the airline provided services to 26
Inuit communities in Nunavut, Nunavik and the NWT. Ptarmigan Airways operated smaller turboprop aircraft types such as the
Beechcraft King Air (BE-200 model),
DHC-6 Twin Otter and
Grumman Gulfstream I turboprops, and a single
Cessna Citation II business jet aircraft. At the time of the merger NWT Air operated
Boeing 737-200 jetliners and a single
Lockheed L-100 Hercules cargo turboprop. First Air was wholly owned by the Inuit of
Quebec through the
Makivik Corporation, which purchased the company in 1990. On 21 August 2008, First Air fired president Bob Davis and replaced him with Scott Bateman. Davis had been president since December 1997 and had several disagreements with First Air over a period of time. On 5 June 2009, First Air received a
wide-body aircraft, a
Boeing 767-223SF (Special Freighter), which was under a three-year
dry lease from Cargo Aircraft Management (CAM), a subsidiary of
Air Transport Services Group (ATSG). The 767 has since left the fleet. After the introduction of the operationally and logistically more economical Boeing 767-223SF in March 2010, First Air retired and removed its two
Boeing 727-233 aircraft from its fleet. One was one of only two
combi types in the world, and the last
727-200 in North America on scheduled passenger-freight services. The other 727-233F full freighter was also phased out. A
Hawker Siddeley HS 748 turboprop (C-GFNW) was retired in March 2011. Replacing this aircraft type were two
ATR 72 Combi turboprops as part of First Air's fleet replacement program. They were outfitted with a cargo handling system, and one was outfitted with a large cargo door. A first of its kind in North America, it was able to handle built
unit Load Device positions. This in turn created a larger load capacity and flexibility reaching remote communities. One began service in the last quarter of 2011, and the second in the first quarter 2012. In 2009 First Air added routes in the
Kivallaq Region adding flights from Rankin Inlet to Arviat and Baker Lake. On 30 March 2010, it added Whale Cove, Repluse Bay, Coral Harbour and Chesterfield Inlet to the Kivalliq Routes. In February 2011, First Air and Qikiqtaaluk Corporation (QC) started a new airline named Qikiqtani First Aviation. The new company provided services throughout Nunavut's
Qikiqtani Region using First Air's fleet. Another airline, Sakku First Aviation, was started the same time in partnership with Sakku Investments Corporation in Nunavut's Kivalliq Region. In December 2011, Scott Bateman, President and CEO, abruptly resigned his position with First Air. Kris Dolinki became president and CEO after Bateman's departure. In October 2012, Dolinki resigned his position as president and CEO of First Air. This announcement came shortly after Makivik Corporation stated that, after many rumours, its stake in First Air was not for sale. The position of President and CEO was filled on an interim basis by Chris Ferris, First Air's Vice President of Marketing and Sales. In March 2013, First Air/Makivik Corporation hired Brock Friesen as its new president and CEO. On 11 April 2014, the Makivik Corporation and Norterra, owners of
Canadian North, began negotiations to merge the two airlines. According to a website set up the same day the new airline would be owned equally between the two companies and "a merger would create a stronger, more sustainable business, provide better service to customers and lead to new economic development opportunities across the North - "We believe the two companies would complement each other’s strengths." In October 2014, it was announced the merger would not go through, but First Air would still
codeshare some flights with Canadian North. In early 2015 First Air announced strategic agreements with
Cargojet Airways and
Summit Air. The 767 lease was transferred to Cargojet at that time and First Air was also providing ATR-72 turboprop services for Cargojet. On 21 April 2015, First Air's Hercules C-GUSI flew the final civilian L382 flight in Canada, bringing to an end over 45 years of commercial
Lockheed Hercules service. L382 Hercules operations in Northern Canada were begun during the 1960s by
Pacific Western Airlines. On 1 June 2015, First Air began their
codeshare flights with
Calm Air ending their Kivalliq Regional Flights from
Rankin Inlet to
Arviat,
Baker Lake,
Coral Harbour,
Repulse Bay,
Whale Cove, and
Chesterfield Inlet. In 2016, First Air/Bradley Air Services became the oldest airline in Canada still operating under its original name. On 28 September 2018, Makivik Corporation and the Inuvialuit Corporate Group (ICG) signed a definitive agreement to merge Canadian North and First Air, awaiting government approval. The new airline would use the new First Air livery, but would operate under the name
Canadian North. On 19 June 2019, the federal government gave approval to the merger provided several terms and conditions were met. On 2 October 2018 First Air hired Chris Avery as the new CEO of First Air. He became the CEO of Canadian North after the merger was completed. On 1 November 2019, First Air and Canadian North completed the merger and combined schedules. Operations were under the
Canadian North name using the First Air branding. However, full integration was expected to take 12 to 18 months. == Destinations ==